Events

Introduction to Welsh Resources

12 February 2022 / 9:00 a.m. EST

Presenter: David Jeanes

Online - Register

The twelve historical counties of Wales, plus Monmouthshire, were treated as part of England for resources such as civil registration. However, there are some important differences. These include the extensive use of patronymics rather than family names and the use of the Welsh language, particularly for house names. Very common surnames, such as Jones, also present difficulties. County record offices still relate to the historical, rather than the modern counties, and there are many important records held in the National Library of Wales at Aberystwyth.A number of useful books on Welsh research have also been published.


David Jeanes is a retired professional engineer and has been a BIFHSGO member since its founding. He has given a number of BIFHSGO talks and great moments and helped with the running of the recent online conference. His family comes from South Wales, with roots in Pembrokeshire, Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, but some of the family were economic migrants into Wales in the 1850s. In the early years of his research, he visited many county record offices, churches, and libraries in Wales and corresponded with numerous contacts. Today most research can be done effectively online with important new resources.

1600 years of stories from St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle 

12 February 2022 / 10:00 a.m. EST

Presenter: Kristen Mercier  

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For over six centuries, the archives of St George’s Chapel have been kept in the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle. These Archives belong to one of England’s few remaining royal peculiars and, along with its rare book library, offer an account of the history of property ownership by the church and the land’s occupants across England and Wales, tell about the Chapel's royal connections and present to researchers stories of those who lived and worked on the site. Looking through the Chapel’s history and records, Kristen Mercier will demonstrate how to best access records from the medieval to modern periods, and walk you through the history of record keeping itself in over half a millennium at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Kristen Mercier is the current archivist for the Arnprior & McNab Braeside Archives since June 2021 and, prior to this, worked in England as the Assistant Archivist for St George's Chapel Archives & Chapter Library, Windsor Castle. Kristen obtained a qualifying master's degree in archiving from the University of Glasgow and also holds a second master's degree in Medieval Norse Studies from a joint degree program between the University of Iceland and the University of Oslo. She obtained her Bachelor’s in history and languages from Queen's University, Canada.  

Tips For Genetic Genealogy DNA Research and Irish Case Studies

12 March 2022 / 9:00 a.m. EST

Presenter: Shirley Monkhouse  

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This technical presentation will help you organize your DNA research, reducing the time and effort needed to work toward a better understanding of your DNA results. Included are case studies demonstrating and explaining the analysis used in ancestor research, with emphasis on Ireland. This talk will be a benefit to everyone working with Genetic Genealogy. A handout will be provided.

Since a family reunion during the 1967 Centennial year, Shirley Monkhouse has been interested in learning about all her Irish ancestors. She grew up listening to her father explain family trees to visitors in the farmhouse built by her great-grandfather near Carp, Ontario, and located within 50 km of all the farms of her pioneer families who immigrated from Ireland from 1818-1858. All 32 3rd-great grandparents were “born in Ireland” – paternal side from Leinster and maternal in Ulster. Shirley started researching online in 2008 and, in 2015, sent in her first of many DNA kits. She has since connected with cousins around the world. Shirley has shared her knowledge by giving several presentations to the DNA Special Interest Group, continues to learn about DNA analysis and is enjoying the many new sources for Irish records online.

The Irish Palatines in Ireland and Canada

12 March 2022 / 10 a.m. EST

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The Irish Palatines have a unique heritage, one that continues to live on in descendants both in Ireland and in Canada.  This illustrated presentation will give an overview of their story, look at aspects of their identity from 1709 up to the present time, and identify key sources for finding Irish Palatine ancestors.

Carolyn Heald has been researching Irish Palatine history and genealogy for more than three decades. The second, revised edition of her book, The Irish Palatines in Ontario:  Religion, Ethnicity, and Rural Migration, was published in 2009 by Global Heritage Press.  She also co-edits the Irish Palatine Association Journal which is published in Ireland and is a Director of the OGS’s Irish Palatine Special Interest Group.

"Betty Jeans Story" Adoption, Forensic and Genetic DNA

9 April 2002 / 10 a.m. DST

Mags Gaulden

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“She said, ‘You know I am adopted…’” Betty Jean’s searched for her family once. In the 1950’s she and her husband visited the county records office to discover what they could about her birth. The file they were shown was empty. There was nothing to see. Many years later when a call comes in about family records Betty Jean may have, her search began anew. Travel with Mags as she unravels the levels of intricacy involved in finding the birth family of Betty Jean using forensic genealogy and DNA.

Mags Gaulden is a professional genealogist specializing in genetic genealogy as the founder of Grandma’s Genes in Ottawa. Growing up in a family full of family historians, Mags was primed to become a genealogist.

After earning her Bachelors Degree from Columbia College, she began to work her own genealogy as a “hobby.” This 35-year “hobby” eventually led her to a leader role with WikiTree, where she currently leads: The DNA Innovators Project and The United Empire Loyalist Project. She also leads the Gaulden, McElmoyle, and Templeton Name Studies and the Gaulden, McElmoyle, and Templeton DNA Group Projects.

Mags is an international genetic genealogy lecturer, blogger, and social media maven. She serves as admin for Facebook groups, including the ISOGG Facebook Group. She is a former member of the Canadian Casualty Identification Team.

Through her non-profit work with mitoYDNA.org, Mags and other genetic genealogists are providing a free and accessible YDNA and mtDNA database for the genealogy community. “Doing DNA Right” (mitoYDNA.org)

The Diary Project

14 May 2002 / 10 a.m. DST

Anne Coulter

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An old diary that begins in 1862, is passed down through three generations and sparks a scavenger hunt. Who wrote the diary and why was it a cherished family heirloom? How do you read the handwriting? Without living family members or any context, how do you tackle such a project?

This talk will show how decoding the contents of a diary reveals a family’s history, provides colourful context and a glimpse into life in 1860s Toronto. Due to the pandemic, all the research was done from home and it is surprising what you can discover!

Anne Coulter joined BIFHSGO three years ago seeking assistance and ideas on how to decipher and research an ancestor’s diary. Inspired by the talks of other members, she was able to tackle the project. Now retired, she spent her career in the Federal Public Service and has found a new interest in family history.